Do you know what the IP rating is of all the coverings for your electrical appliances is? Chances are you probably are unsure what an IP rating is, let alone that your appliances have a rating other than how effective or popular they are. Well, they do and if you didn’t know, Eurolux is hear to shed some light on it.

Eurolux explains that an IP rating (short for International Protection Rating or Ingress Protection Rating) is a method of specifying the environmental protection afforded by enclosures around electronic equipment. It is commonly applied to light fittings. This rating classifies how easy it is for solid objects (like hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact, and water to penetrate covers. This standard was introduced to provide users of appliance with more detailed information other than vague marketing terms like ‘waterproof,’ ‘shatterproof’ and so on.

These ratings are determined, Eurolux explains, through tests conducted under specific conditions. The IP rating is expressed in numbers made up of two components and is written as follows: IPXY. The first number (X) refers to the protection against solid objects and the second (Y) against liquids with a higher number indicating better protection.